Turkey completes constructing new settlement in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – A Turkish organization recently completed the construction of a new settlement in the village of Kafr Safra in the countryside of Afrin, northwestern Syria, amid an increase in the number of settlements in the area.
Sources from the Turkish-backed local council of Afrin told North Press that a Turkish organization called Deniz Feneri finalized the construction of approximately 100 residential apartments in the northwestern part of Kafr Safra village, in the countryside of the town of Jindires, west of Afrin.
The sources further revealed that the project was constructed near a campsite in the forest, but it has not yet been handed over. It is believed to be intended for the families of militants from the Samarkand Brigade, which is affiliated with the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), and has presence in the area.
In Nov. 26, North Press reported that a military faction affiliated with the SNA cut down hundreds of trees in the same area.
Afrin has been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA since March 2018 following the so-called “Olive Branch” military operation to push away the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of protecting “Turkish national security.”
Since then, they have constructed multiple settlements, in which they housed Syrians and Palestinians from other areas, in addition to settling thousands of people in the houses of the forcibly displaced Kurdish inhabitants in Afrin.
Since the beginning of 2023, Turkey has initiated the construction of 21 settlements in Afrin, with the support of Kuwaiti, Qatari, Saudi, Palestinian, and Turkish organizations, according to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press.